Fastening mechanism for grave vaults



v l 0 1 9 8 l K c E B F. A. & 2 9 l 3, 2 d O FASTENING MECHANISM FOR GRAVE VAULTS Filed May 3, 192'? 1li l..

dllen Iecjf Patented Get. Z3, 1928. i

UNITEV team reni" eerie.

ALLEN F. BECK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLARK GRAVE VALT COM- IPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

FASTENING MECHANISIVI FOR GRAVE VAULTS.

Application led May 3, 1927.

yThis invent-ion relates broadly to grave vaults of the t pe formed from sheet metal and constructedto include separable base and cover sections, and the primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a grave vault of this character wherein is provided improved fastenings or latching means for securing and retaining the base and cover sections together in assembled relation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of latching mechanism for the purpose set forth of simple, positive and efficient construction lformed to include a spring pressedA bolt, slidably carried by the base section and adapted, when extended, to lie within an opening provided in the lower part of the cover section so as to prevent the lifting or removal of the cover section from its secured position on the base section.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a latching mechanism of this character with a resilient catch adapted for eooperation with the bolt so as to hold the latter in its retracted or inoperative position, but whereby upon the actuation of the catch the bolt may be released so as to respond to the influence of its controllingspring and move outwardly automatically to assume its operative position.

Other objects reside in the specific construction and mounting of the resilient catch, the specific construction of the sliding bolt, and-in the provision ofa frangible manually operated stem for moving the boltsv inwardly against the influence of its spring, the op erating portion of the stem being removable from the main body of the stem in order that provision may be had for permanentlyfastening the vault sections together.

With theseand other'objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construct-ion, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and pointed out in the ap,- pended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the base section of a sheet metal grave vault, disclosing the operating positions of the bolt used by the present invention, the cover section of the vault being disclosed in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the fastening units of the vault,

serial No. 188,566;

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral l designates the base section of a sheet metal grave vault, and the numeral 2 the hood or cover section. The latter is of the usual type and includes closed top, side and end walls and an open bott-om, the lower edges of the side and end walls being outwardly flared as at 3, the flared walls terminate in inwardly and horizontally arranged base portionse and inwardly and upwardly extending vertical ianges The base `portion vis formed to include marginal side and end walls 6 and a flat horizontally extending upper wall 7, upon which a casket or the like is adapted to be placed in the usual manner and supported above the plane ofy the base flanges 8 which extend outwardly and horizontally from the lower edges of the'walls 6, and upon which the horizontal walls 4 of the cover section are received. The basesection is provided with the usual handles 9.

The four corners of the base section are each formed to receive fastening units, indicated at 10, for securing the base and cover Sections together, and it is to the specific construction of these fastening units that the present invention is principally directed. Since the units are identical in construction a description of one will su'liice for all.

Each fastening unit consists of a casing 11 welded or otherwise secured beneath the wall 7 to the side and end wall 6, the casing extending parallel with and inside of the adjacent end wall of the base. Slidably mounted within the casing is a bolt 12, preferably in the form of an open frame casting. ,shown especially in Figures 2 and 3, the bolt is formed to comprise an open frame portion 13, with which is integrally formed a pair of spaced longitudinally extending arms 1li, the latter terminating at their ends in oppositely directed lugs 15 which, in connection with the Vao upper and klower walls of the frame portionsk y n One of the side walls of theframe portion 13 is provided with an aperture through which extends a rod or stem 16, the inner end of the latter being downwardly turned as at 17 so as to connect the bolt therewith. The stem is also slidably received within an opening provided in the end wall of the casing l1, and is then bent angularly to produce a hook shaped actuating portion 18, which is located beyond the confines of the casing in which the bolt is contained. Surrounding the stem 16 and confined between the end wall of the casing 11 and one of the side walls of the frame 13 is a coil spring 19 of the eX- pansible type, which operates normally upon the bolt so as to force the later forwardly and longitudinally with respect to the casing, in order that the head 20 of the bolt may normally be forced through an opening 21 in the side wall 6 and passed' over the flange 5 and into the compartment 22. The forward movement of the bolt in response to the influence of the spring is limited by the engagement of a shoulder 23 with the Wall 6. The head 20 includes an arcuate outer face 24, which terminates inA an inwardly directed horizontal -wall 25, arranged normally immediately over the lower edges of the opening 21 and the flange 5, that is, when the bolt occupies an advanced position, in order to fasten the hood and' cover sections together. It will be understood that the arms 14 also act to limit the inward or retractive movement of the bolt, when the head 2O of the latter has been withdrawn to a sufficient extent to clear the flange 5. These. arms lserve also to confine the main spring 19.

In order vto retain the bolt in its retractive or'inactive position there' is. provided a resilient catch 26. This catch is preferably formed from a single piece of bent wire and includes a main body portion 27, mounted upon the outer wall of the casing 11. This body portion includes an inwardly bent offset 28, which projects through a longitudinally extending slot 29 provided in the casing 11. Theoffset portion 28 includes a shoulder a, which extends transversely of the bolt and Which terminates inwardly in a rounded corner and in a. forwardly directed angularly disposed portion b. Theportions a and b lie in the path of movement of the bolt, and it will be seen that as the bolt is retracted, the frame 13 thereof engages first with the angular portion 7 so as to move the catch .outwardly against the resistance of a spring coil c. VWhen the. bolt has been fully retracted the inner wall of the frame 13 is positioned beyond the confines of the offset 28, so that the latter responds to the influence of Vthe coil c and moves inwardly from the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 to the full line` position, whereupon the shoulder a is positioned within the frame 13 of the bolt and serves to positively fasten the latter catch is provided with an eye al which permits the catch to be manually grasped and pulled outwardly so as to release the bolt when desired and cause the same to advance to its operative position. The coil c terminates in an inwardly directed hook e, which passes through an opening provided in one of the walls of the casing 11, and the hook e in turn terminates in an upstanding portion f which cooperates with the inner wall of the casing to prevent rotation of the catch and to positively maintain the same ina true horizontal plane of operation by'preventing. the said rotating or twisting of the catch. The stem 16 is provided with registering notches 30, which weakens that portion of the stem so that when the bolt is fully retractedv the actuating portion 18 of the stem may be removed or broken from the balance of the stem, whereby upon Vthe subsequent release of the catch the bolt willbe projected forwardly .to its active locking position and permanently retained in such position if desired.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an etlicient and positive fastening means for uniting the separable sections of a metallic grave vault. The construction has the advantage of being simple and economical to manufac ture and yet ishighly eliicient and eective 95 in use.

What is claimed is: Y

1. In a grave vault, a casing, a bolt slidably mounted in said casing, a stem connect! ed with said bolt and slidably projecting through said casing, a spring surrounding said stem and confined between said casing and said bolt to normally project the latter toward an operative position, and a frangible actuating portion formed with the outer end of said stemV and arranged exteriorly of said casing.

2. In a grave vault, a casing, a bolt slidably mounted in said casing and embodying a head provided with a recess,an actuating stem connected with said bolt and slidably projectingthrough said casing for moving the bolt manually, a spring surrounding said stem and confined between said casing and said bolt and serving to project the latter 115 normally toward an operative position, anda resilient catchmounted upon the outer portion of said casing and having an offset portion movably received within a slot provided in said casing, said offset portion being adapt- 120 ed for engagement with said bolt recess when the bolt is retracted in order to positively retain said bolt in its retracted position. f

3. In a grave vault, separable base and cover sections, fastening means for uniting 125 said sections consistingof a casing, a bolt slidably mounted within said casing and formed to include a frame shaped body, one end of said body terminating in a head against movement. The free end of the formed to include an inclined outer face and a longitudinally extending shoulder, said head being arranged to enter registering openings provided in the base and coversections of the vault when the bolt occupies an extended position, the opposite ends ot saidv bolt being formed to include longitudinally extending arms terminating in vertically ofset lugs, a stem positioned between said arms and extending exteriorly of said casing, a coil spring surrounding said stem and conined between said casing and the body portion of said bolt, and a catch of bent wire mounted in connection with 'said casing for movement in a horizontal plane, said catch including an inwardly oiifset portion arranged Within said casing` and coactive with said bolt to retain the latter in its retracted position against the iniuence of said spring.

In testimony whereoi:l I affix my signature.

ALLEN F. BECK. 

